Merry Christmas disease

From the Christmas tree on lichen planus and the Christmas disease of hemophilia b, merry Christmas! I have successfully passed my first semester with my clique and learned that for some reason a beautiful holiday like Christmas is also linked to the unpleasant health disorders.

Glad to be home, sleep in and not worry about anything except when to shower.

Cheers!

10 days!

Who doesn't love a countdown!!!!

In 10 days I will be able to celebrate all the holidays I missed because of the stressful demands of PA school. I will have bbqs like it is Labor Day, celebrate my birthday, dress up for Halloween, celebrate Vy's Birthday, celebrate Veteran's Day and bake for Thanksgiving! I will celebrate Duy's birthday and St. Nicholas's Day!!! I will then cram all the festivities of Christmas in 5 days. It will be grand!

Until then though..it is study, eat, eat coffee, sugar, study study study and think about working out. Finals, you will not be fun but I will survive the next few days then smile give high-fives to all my ladies as we celebrate the night away!

My studying is scattered like my brain

Erica's studying is simplified. She sat here all day and we needed to rotate her to avoid pressure ulcers

I BOMBED IT..So What!

So it is getting down to the wire. The exams are routine, the studying monotonous and the expectations never met. BUT..at this point, what can you do but truck through, cross your fingers and take one day at a time.

TWENTY THREE DAYS UNTIL I CAN BREATHE but getting grades back after finals will be another story and another post.

Why make tests soooo hard and ask questions in the most difficult way for the simplest answer? Why you options that I have never heard of? Why make easy to read notes but hard to read tests? Excuse me, PA schoool, you don't make sense. Maybe test the same way as you teach...oh wait, I taught myself how to read EKGs, treat arrhythmias and listen to murmurs.

in the meantime, I will take exams and try to forget the best way possible...Go out with my ladies!

Friday night schmidaynight

update! PA SURVIVAL-- fun thing I learned today. If you boil an egg and put it in a bag of raw vegetables ( I was in a hurry and didn't have time to get bfast or a normal snack), when it is snack time, the boiled egg creates heat in the baggie that semi warm/steams your veggies!!! What a pleasant surprise today at snack time. :)

Cheers to losing a bet.

Rumor is we will all survive this bad nightmare and feel accomplished after feeling like failures throughout the program. At the end of it all, I think I will be most sad that I met all these people and didn't have time to really get to know them because of time limitation. But for now, we will have our once a month outings to cheers after a test in which half of us are too tired to get excited to go but once we are out it's like trying to tame a fat kid in a pool of chocolate.

Another week has passed and another Friday in front of the books. Surprise surprise. The sad part is, in reality how much studying am I getting on a Friday night. My brain is fried from studying all week, my mental status is drained from the rollercoaster of grades (anxiety when you get the email saying grades will be distributed THEN the anxiety of opening the stupid paper= ahhh). At this point in the game I will have to say everyone is numb. Numb to the magnitude of information, numb to the endless list of expectations and numb to the walk to the SAME class everyday.

The center of my sanity and studies

Another downside..being in a room with all freakin smart people. Got to keep in mind that everyone was chosen to be in the program because of their street cred. It is 3 months into the first semester with 34 days until the end of finals. Hostility in the classroom is rising due to everyone's brainwaves getting overcharged and conducted at the same rate. Today, there was a heated discussion over taking off 0.1 pts for errors on peer review... REALLY?! let me know when you remember that you got 0.1 pts off for indenting wrong a year from now. And if so..get laid. (pardon me but for reals). No point arguing your grade. Do your best and learn the material and learn from your mistakes.

On a happy note, my mail ordered bf comes tomorrow just in time for grocery shopping :)

nerd

Best pick up line:

"You have a pterygium?!"

" I have a pinguecula!"--Erica

Things that excite a PA student.

surviving

I AM ALIVE!!!!

Worst two weeks thus far!!! and it SHOULD be calmer until Finals but that is just prepping for finals!!!!

Last week we had Adultmedicine and Pharmacology exams.

This week it was Physical assesment, POPQUIZ in pharm (YES, POP QUIZ..not cool right? esp when we JUST had an exam), peds quiz/structure and fxn exam, adult med quiz and pathophysiiology exam.

I thought to myself, if I can mentally handle this round of exams I will be ok..and if I can pass all my exams that would be even better!!! SO FAR, so good!!! I am treading for my life but I am still alive. It's all about being alive and healthy, right?! Check and check..except the gym is calling my name. A bad mentality to have while studying is, I "deserve" this frappacino and I hit an all time low when it was time to bust out the blue box because my fridge consists of eggs, wine, and a tube of yogurt.

Surviving does not mean it wasn't a battle. There were tears shed, white flags coming out and interventions. All in all---this was not a solo effort. PA school makes you crazy, it makes you crazy with some other crazies (who will cry, yell at you and with you) and makes you a crazy girlfriend. Solution to the last part, your bf lives across the country so he doesn't see what you eat for meals and  the structure of a mountain range on your forehead.

Cheers to my new friends, I owe them drinks because they have more faith in me than I do myself!

Don't beat yourself up for the ones you get wrong, reward yourself for the ones you got right.

Gotta be confident like this guy. So much swag

Christmas, where are you?!

Christmas has a whole new meaning now. It is not only the birth of Christ, the day Santa squeezes down a smoke pipe, or a consumer holiday. It will be a time that I can smile again, I can enjoy a cup a coffee (instead of trying to inject it in for my effects), and I can workout again. Oh, Christmas can you come any earlier? People ask me, what happened to Thanksgiving? Well, Thanksgiving is ruined by the back to back exams I have when I get back.

Thank you, PA school for taking away the day I should be thankful...instead I will regret having big dreams..dreams of a PA.

Lesson: lower your standards.

Yup, just another blog before another exam. Welcome, to the worst week thus far. 3 exams, 2 quizzes and another exam next week.

Quick and Dirty

Today, I was told I was going to learn ECG "quick and dirty.." Sure.....

So this morning I realized I was like an addict that finally confronted my problem. While searching for  something in my room I realized that once I get a taste of freedom, I get hooked. While frantically searching for halloween goodie bags (yea, totally irrelevant but so important at the time kind of like when Jessie Spano HAD to take those caffeine pills so she could sing at the talent show in Saved by the bell), I never want to turn back to studying or the confinements of my apartment in the city of PUMA. I was on a high when I am far from school (too bad i live across zee street). I am smiling, I leisurely walk through the isles of Target, and I interact with society. THEN...DUN DUN DUN.. Sunday night. I meet with a study group. I get hit hard. I face withdrawals from the freedom and I fall into a denial/depression...

I didn't realize I was an addict of fun until I saw how the PA student norm was. FFFFFFF.. Now I gotta study 48 hours straight for Adult Medicine Hematology test. Coolnads. Now like an addict, I have to clean up my mess and pull through. 

Gotta study it..quick and dirty. 

2am

Helix Crew

It is two am. Halloween weekend and these are our costumes. Be careful with the alcohol intake because you don't want to become folate deficient!

Winding down or starting up?!

As I wind down my studies for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention aka HPDP aka hippy dippy, I felt it was appropriate to do my blog update because pre-test is when I got all the creative juices flowin! zAfter the test, I hate school.

Shiz we say that wouldn't make sense to the normal folks aka civilians outside of our Pomona bubble:

from misc people:" Oh. I feel bad you have to go to the Lakers game vs Clipper game" because studying is everyone's activity of choice.

"I don't want to go to the gym because I hate to waste time driving there when i can be studying"--

Studying like a Bui--I also was using my ipad. Those screens should not be the same either.

THE ABOVE WAS TYPED BEFORE MY EXAM THEN I DECIDED I SHOULD STUDY SO STOPPED TYPING...

So it is Friday night before Halloween and my fun activity was spent fist pumping, booty shakin...in kickboxing...at the gym! YEAH!

How does one go from studying for a quiz and exam to straight studying after the exam. It is close to impossible. I stared at my computer for a few hours hoping some words would stick into my brain. Then I found it more interesting to ease drop on everyone else's conversations at Starbucks. Next, I found myself wondering up and down the aisle of the grocery store like it was the Disneystore. Every aisle held some happiness because it was nothing school related. At the store, my biggest concern was chicken or beef. I couldn't choose the wrong answer. There was none. I could have ALL THE ABOVE!

Is it possible to always study the wrong material or focus on the wrong points??? Or is that a simple cop out to, "you stupppid!"

Shall I sleep or study?! 8 more exams/quizzes to go...

Sleeping is a Luxury

Sooooo, I like to do things. I like to do fun things. I like to do everything besides study. So when I get asked a month ago to go to the Lakers vs Clippers pre-season game, I said YEA!

Mistake. Pharmacology quiz the next day AND HPDP exam..two classes I need As on the exam. at this point everyone (I assume) need As on exams because it's half way through the semester and we are getting tired of treading water to survive.

Erica and I are taking breakdown bets on ourselves. With the upcoming insane-o exam schedule my bet is I cry next Wednesday, Oct 31 and she will the following day after our pharm exam, Nov.1.

Next 20 days will be like being stuck in a nightmare.

Pharm Quiz (pretty much like an exam)-- 10/25
HPDP Exam-- 10/26
Adult Medicine exam-- 10/30
Pharm Exam 11/1
HPDP Quiz 11/2
Phys Ass Cardio test 11/5
Structure/fx exam 11/7
Pediatrics Quiz 11/7
Pathophysiology 11/9
Adult Medicine Exam 11/13

(Yay, I didn't vomit while making the list of exams)

NOVEMBER 16--CELEBRATE.

All the cool kids study at sporting events

Blind leading the Blind

Group study is a good thing after each individual person has studied.
Group study is not a good thing when everyone is at the same state of confusion.

"We are the blind leading the blind"- Nina

It took us a couple hours to get down Anti-coagulation in Pharmacology but at the end of night everyone learned something new and my cheeks hurt from laughing so much. If this was facebook, I would insert "with---Eleni Litra, Erica Ventrella, and Nina Luong."

Misc things we covered:

It's "hep-rin" not he- pair-in.

LMWH- is like pears floating in water.

Thrombolytics is the ART of killing thrombo in a -plase.

Vitamin K is the shiz but not for anti-coagulation. Avoid salads, but not too much.

Kicking and Screaming!

Things sure have been busy but I am the dumb dumb who decided to sign up for a destination marathon in the middle of PA school and a trip home to surprise my mom.

So things I've learned while attending an accelerated grad program.

1. Keep your clothes folded so you don't waste time looking for clothes before class
2. Finding a studying rhythm is important
3. Marathons are cool but running them untrained isn't-- but I did complete the Nike Women's marathon in SF on my birthday which I would say is semi- cool.
4. Don't subscribe to magazines or purchase a magazine after an exam because you "deserve" it...it will remain unread.
5.DO try and stay active. Being smart but fat is a no dice.
6. Call your mom, she misses you.
7. Get a boyfriend that buys you groceries that last more almost a month.
8. It is okay to talk to yourself when you are studying in public.

My creative juices sure haven't been flowing lately.

to be continued...

Bad life decisions

It is called Red October because you cry so much your eyes turn red and then you get conjunctivitis.

Thank goodness I have two venting buddies that live in my building who allow me to ring their doorbell a million times.

Tip for survival in grad school: Make friends that will cry with you.

Red October

Red October is what "they" call this month. "They" as in all the folks that tell me "I will do fine" and "the exam will be easy" and then laugh at all of us during the Wednesday meeting. Yup it's red and hot. If you can't stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen. Girllll,,,,, I wish I was in the bathroom..FAR from the kitchen. Nope, instead I am front and center.

Numb, tired, and tired. The worst part of the day was taking an exam in the first class where there were topics we had to teach ourselves THEN having to sit through two classes where they explain anemia in depth. Would have been helpful for the test dont ya think!?

fun fact! menstruating can cause anemia so eat your luna bars (well iron supplements), ladies! Recommended with orange juice so it absorbs better.

So naive in this photo...

So appropriate to have a rainy day in the beautiful inland empire of Pomona.

Important dates to remember: October 23, 2012--I am free to vacuum and possibly have time to cry because for now I need to study.

180

I am going to try something new...I WILL DO WELL. I WILL GET AN A ON PEDIATRICS TODAY. I WILL SUCCEED.

Notes Galore! Morning of exam. 

To try and tame my nerves I shall try this "positive thinking" mumbo jumbo the so-called-experts- of-who-knows-what tell you to try. Countless times I have gone over an exam after I get my grade and review the incorrect answers. I will try to reanswer the question (now without pressure and a clearer mind) and will answer it correctly! If I didn't answer it right the second time, then I deserve to get it wrong. Worst feeling is thinking---"AHHH I should have gotten that question right!" The professors say "well at least you won't forget it now." Well Mr/Ms. Professor because I won't get it wrong now, will I get that point...NO! So hush!

Points don't matter but I sure do need to pass!


-Signing out.

Peds I will kick you in the bum bum.

Fun fact: cockroaches are a risk factor for asthma

UPDATE: Pediatrics test completed and this is what I thought about:

It is thought, if the football player can touch the ball, he can catch it. SOOO if I understand the concept in the question I should be able to answer it. If not, it's on me.

Shame on me.

Pre-game show

Alright, here is the schedule/stats for the week

Wednesday, 10/10- Pediatrics Midterm-- covering head, eyes, ears, nose, throat and respiratory system
Thursday, 10/11- Pathophysiology Unit 3 Exam- to cover blood disorders
Thursday, 10/11- Pharmacology quiz- covering HEENT antibiotics
Friday, 10/12- HPDP (health prevention) Reading quiz. Subject TBA because I haven't looked at it.

STATS as of now:
Peds- study guide complete, going over HEENT section
Patho- Study guide complete, have not reviewed
Pharm- Know ABX for conjunctivitis and glaucoma
HPDP- haha that's not til friday

MISC activities
Saturday, 10/13- fly to SF
Sunday, 10/14- Attempt 26.2 miles

Celebrate/ prepare for OSCE (practical exam) on Monday.

Will I see my 26th birthday?

Bitch-slapped

Watching PA School. I'm packin heat!

After a few days off of school, not necessarily studying, just no classes, I feel like studying again will feel like I have been bitched-slapped with information overload.

Vy came to visit me after haven't seen each other since White Coat Ceremony. So he saw me before the madness began. My white coat was pressed neatly and my books were still wrapped in cellophane. Besides the crying over the phone and following this blog, he hasn't really seen the madness of school and he still hasn't. This weekend, the once California boy wanted to do everything outside the beautiful pristine city of Pomona. That means I am carrying around an oversized Pathophysiology book and miscellaneous notes for Pediatrics and Pharm. The "plan" was to drop me off at coffeeshops around town while he played. Unfortunately, because of my lack of will-power, I most likely participated in most of the activities. My studying was sporadic, not necessarily the best method. So cute when he asked "did you get enough studying in today?" I laughed at his innocuous remark.  Bitch-slapped is how I will feel after I drop him off at LAX in a couple hours. Bitchslapped from the sadness of being alone again and overwhelmed by school.

On the bright side, the kid filled my fridge with cheeses, yogurt, bread, marinated chicken (he even packaged them in large ziploc so i can freeze), and a new Pyrex set. This is what happens when you send a guy to the grocery store. I can't complain. He even watered all my plants and made me the best grilled cheese ever. Vy is a freak of nature (cooks, IronMan, botanist, nutritionist, running coach and dancer).

Tenacity got me into PA school. Just got to keep at it! Saw this at a coffee shop in Burbank where I was going to park it and study for hours. 

"I'm stuck on this emotional rollercoaster and I can't get off!!!"--Erica

Finally, a few days off of class (PA conference this week so I get days off to go but I am in grad school with no money soooo yeahhh) to catch up on some good ole classical readings of my Pathophysiology textbook, learn all about Pediatrics and brush up on Pharmacology (next week back to back patho and peds exam followed by pharm quiz). Sounds like a great few days off to me! Well, after having a couple of the hardest exams I have ever endured in Pharmacology and Adult Medicine, I am convinced I need respiratory therapy so I don't vomit on my walk to class on exam day or during the exam. I get so exhausted mentally just building up to the exam then I actually have to take it! Am I mentally strong enough to endure this for another 9 months!?! And DO NOT tell me I will be fine. People need to not tell me I am doing fine. YOU DON'T KNOW ME! I'd rather hear that there's extra credit.

So approaching the exam I must study. Preparing to study is an important task and reading over the material for the first time can sometimes be so foreign. So before starting to study I say to myself, "You are going to ACE this!" I am feeling good and some of the girls and I plan a celebratory outing one week away because we are happy PA students getting ready for a difficult week of exams ahead. Ok.. So the exam is like 5 days  away, I start studying more in depth..after a couple days I get overwhelmed with the load of material. Stress is building up and I say to myself " I just want a B. I am a B student anyways. Quality of life over grades." alright, so now 2 days away and I haven't even covered the last half of notes. " I just want to pass!" So going into the test, hyperventilation, hyperventilation, anxiety, gag reflex may come into action. Now after the test I am pretty sure I failed it. Bombed. bamboozled by the professors. Days of studying felt pointless. Sooo that is how I felt leaving the pulmonary test in adult medicine. Evening of post exam, everyone is exhausted, I am afraid that if I go out to "celebrate" the tests being over, I will drown in beer tears and advertise my failures to the public. Emotional Rollercoaster!

Well, I made a commitment to go out and I did. Luckily, no tears escaped (from me) and I woke up with a lovely headache. One week of spaghetti, minimal work outs (one week before my marathon= more stress) and caffeine overload-- Week 8 complete

Happy the morning before exam

Googling the correct answers following the exam

Trying to celebrate

Also, I had the best conversations with my PA girls after the exam. Nonsense because no one can function. Lots of repeated conversations of "did i tell you..." Yea, we just discussed it...

me: "Is Nina close to her sister?"
Erica: " eh, sister."
me: "what?"
Erica: "huh? I'm confused."

On my way to a PA..hopefully!

Hi,

So on my nice walk to Starbucks before a HUGE exam, I reflected on the mix of emotions I've had in the past 24 hours. I was eager to learn, I felt like a failure, I hyperventilated (increase CO2 to reduce pH), I felt better about emphysema (it is a pulmonary adult medicine exam), I got sleepy, I felt liberated, and I felt defeated then content. EMOTIONAL ROLLERCOASTER don't you think. PA school has gotten all up in my head and messed up my routines. So what better way to express my feelings, share my tips and any other nonsense that comes my way in the next two years. Maybe this will help anyone get an idea what my life has been like in school because I can't count the amount of times I couldn't believe how crazy it is. Schools/advisers tell you it will be hard but who would've thunk I would be looking up eggs on Amazon because I don't have time to go buy some.

Well, back to studying for my exam in a couple hours. To be continued...